LAHORE: PPP South Punjab President Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood says he fears the PTI government will resort to heavy taxation on utilities and petroleum products to meet revenue shortfall it faces due to its ‘flawed’ financial and political policies.

“The government has been left with no option but tax heavily power, gas and oil sectors,” he told Dawn here on Wednesday.

He said that contrary to the hopes of masses, Prime Minister Imran Khan had failed to improve the economy because of his administration’s anti-economy policies.

Sees heavy taxation in power, gas and oil sectors

The Makhdoom, also former governor, said the deprivation of the south Punjab region would not be addressed by starting a separate secretariat in Multan from July 1.

“The opening of ‘unelected’ (officials) secretariat will not serve the people of the region as the people demand a separate province. They need an ‘elected’ secretariat. In other words, their cause will be served by a separate chief minister and not a separate chief secretary.”

He said their voice was not being heard by commissioners and even deputy commissioners, then what to expect from the Big Babu (additional chief secretary who will run the South Punjab secretariat).

The former governor said that 90pc of south Punjab problems would be resolved only if the Provincial Financial Award was implemented in letter and spirit.

He said the ruling PTI was not in a position, at least for the time being, to remove Usman Buzdar as chief minister as the party lacked a clear majority to implement its decisions.

Elaborating, he said, Mr Buzdar was made chief minister as a result of a package deal under which Pervaiz Elahi, representing less than 10 MPAs in the house of 371, was elected the speaker.

The incumbent chief minister also enjoyed the support of MPAs, thanks to their recent pay raise, he said. Asserting that the bill raising MPAs’ remuneration was irreversible, he said salaries of lawmakers in all provinces should be equal.

About the arrest of PPP workers by the Islamabad police during party chairman Bilawal ’s appearance before a NAB investigation team on Wednesday, Mr Mahmood said the sentiments of the Sindhis were being hurt through such acts and Mr Khan did not realise ill-impact of the action.

Asked if he saw a mass movement against the government in the wake of deteriorating economy and law and order, he said the PTI government would fall with its own weight through its own follies.

He claimed that “those who installed the Imran Khan government had given it two years to steer the country out of crises or go home,”

He said the PPP would make a comeback in south Punjab.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2019